The Galápagos have long been nicknamed Las Encantadas, meaning the ‘enchanted’ or ‘bewitched’ isles.
This is thanks to a phenomenon that makes the land seem to magically appear and disappear in a fine mist, known locally as garua.
Exactly 100 years after the publication of Darwin’s book – the islands were declared a National Park by Ecuador. Soon came the concept of responsible tourism: to share the archipelago’s beauty without harming its fragile ecosystems. Much of the archipelago enjoys strong legal protection by UNESCO and the Ecuadorean government, and there are numerous projects to restore the native wildlife and ecosystems.
Visiting the Galápagos today is a lot easier for us than in times past. But unlike previous explorers, we aim to give something back to these remote and beautiful islands and – of course – make our visits as low-impact as possible.
Imagine that the sun never set, that night never came, and the days were endless. This is actually a real phenomenon, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see it for yourself
It’s 1820, and the race to find the elusive southern continent is on. But who will be the first to discover it?
Norway is synonymous with the many gorgeous fjords that feature along its stunning coastline.
As you explore the ever-icy Antarctica, you will be amazed by its wildlife: millions of penguins, thousands of seals, and whales.
In the remote High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, 1,300 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, seeds from around the world lie dormant, safe, and secure in a biological Noah’s ark.
You might know the Galápagos are volcanic, but how exactly did they form and why did life come to flourish here?
